Circuit for coin-collectors.



No 867,955. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907. A. I. mxou.

CIRCUIT FOR COIN COLLECTORS.

APPLICATION I'ILBD MABA, 1907.

4 sums-sum 1.

No. 867,955. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

A. F. DIXON;

CIRCUIT FOR COIN COLLECTORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 4. 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- PATENTED 001?. 15, 1907. A. F. DIXON. 011101111 FOR 00m COLLECTORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1907.

4 SHBETS-SHEET 4- 23012365665, v I Inuezzhr:

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UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

AMOS F. DIXON, oF oHIoAG'o," ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

To all whom it may concern:

and useful Improvement in Circuits for Coin-Collectors,

of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description. v

My invention relates to a coin collecting'telephone system, and its object is to provide a circuit for a combined local and toll coin-collector.

My invention is applicable to coin collectors where the deposit of a coin of predetermined size is required of a subscriber in order to signal the central office. If the call is for a local connection, the coin will be deposited in the cash box or refunded in the usual 1nanner;i f the call is for a toll connection. means are provided, in the apparatus employed-in connection with the circuit of my invention, for operating signals to inform the central office operator of thecharacter of the coin deposited in payment for such toll connection.

The mechanism with which my' invention is used may consist in the combination of two mechanisms which are in general similar to those disclosed respectively in patent to Charles E. Scribner, No. 728,309, issued May 19th, 1903, and in the patent to Frank R. McBerty and Howard B. Holmes, No.. 846,500, issued March 12. 1907.

A particular feature of my invention contemplates means by which the fraudulent manipulation of the coin-collector is'prevented.

I will describe my invention by reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention and also show the mechanism connection with which it is employed. j

Figures 1 and 2 are front and side elevations, respectively. of a coin collector adapted for use with my invention, with the cover in section; Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary detail views of the mechanism for controlling the operation of a stop or guide which projects into the Coin chute; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the coin chute,

with its front wall removed; Fig. 6 isa perspective detail view of one of the parts; Fig. 7 is adiagram of the circuits which may be employed in connection with the Coin box.

Similar reference characters designate the same parts n a h f the fig e o he dr w n The .coin collector mechanism shown in the drawings is the invention or inventions of others. but I shall first d a be t e a n -that the op ra i n of the rcuit oi my invention may be n orereadily understood. The temporary coin-receiver or carrier'l is mounted 1 1 a o ng-sha t 2 i h is ap e to be act at Specification ofLetters Patent. Application filed March 4,1907. Serial in; 960,314.

omour'r FOR oom-ooLL oTons.

Patented o r. 15, 907.

through the medium of the operating handle 3, to move the coin-receiver'forward, so that a coin held in said coin-carrier will be dropped into the mouth or opening 4 of the coin chute 5...

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 5, the coin chute has a passage or chamber 6, the. opening into which is in alinement with the mouth 4 of the coin chute. The entrance to the channel 6 is normally blocked by an obliquely disposed stop'or guide 7, so that when said stop is in position, a coin will be detlected into a chan nel or passage 8 leading into the cash boa; B. The channel 6.has a branch 6 leading into the cash box and a re-' fund chute fi leading to the outside of the coin collector, respectively. I

Two stops or pins 9, 9, normallyproject into the channel 6.in position to arrest a falling coinand support the same between them; These-two stops are mounted upon a centrally-pivoted rocking lever 10,

which forms the armature of a polarizedelectromagnet l1. Said armature may be normally held in its contral position by the usual spring actuated pivoted Ievers which engage the. armature upon oppositecsides of its pivoted point. The structure and function of same as those shown in the above-mentioned patent to Scribner,'and .hence a detailed description thereof is deemedunnecessary. It is sufficient to say briefly that when a coin is in position on the stops 9, 9", it operates a lever 13 in the usual way to close contact springs 14. The armature 10 is adapted, as usual, to be tilted to one side or the other, according to the ,15 these parts are well-known, and are substantially the direction .of the current in .the coils of the polarized electromagnet, and thus the pin 9 or 9, as the 'case may be, is withdrawn to refund the coin it through the T channel 6 or to deposit it in the cash box through the oll operator as to the am unt to be deposited in, the

coin bog; in payment for such service. This toll passes directly from the temporary coin-receiyer hmushth pa sag 8 hi c in chut nto e a h 3 It wi e s n, there at it ii -ne essa y that unde s nat n iti s. t s p 7 shall be Withdrawn in order that a coin of a predetermined ha ac r s p o the chann l. to si al he g n e flieei sa tha under oth c ndi s. he

stop 7 shall remain in its normal position for the purpose of guiding the deposited coin directly into the cash box.

The stop 7 projects through an opening in the casing of the coinchute 5. Said stop forms the free end of a bent lever 15, which is pivoted at its opposite end, as at 16. The lever 15 carries a cam plate 17, which projects rearwardly from the same. A spring 18 tends to operate the lever-15 so as to withdraw the stop 7, but such movement of the lever is normally blocked by the engagement of the cam surface of the plate 17 with an extension 19 of a caliper lever 20.

I will now describe the means and the conditions under which "the removal of the stop '7 is effected. The toll signal mechanism shown in the drawings is substantially the same as that fully shown and described in the before-mentioned patent of McBerty and Holmes, and hence I shall only describe so much of the same as may be necessary to an understanding of the combination shown herein.

The coin-carrier 1 has anopening 21 in one of its side walls, through which a coin held in said receiver may project. Said coinduring the advance movement of the coin carrier is adapted to operate the caliper lever 20, preferably by engaging a curved arm 22 thereof, the extent of displacementof said lever depending upon the diameter of the deposited coin.

Referring to Fig. 4, the normal position of the lever 20, and its position as shifted by a coin of the largest diameter that can be inserted in the coin receptacle are shown in dotted and full lines, respectively. A .coin held in the carrier is not released therefromuntil it has passed beyond the lower end of the arm 22, that is it is not released until the caliper lever 20 is moved to the utmost extent that a coin of such diameter will operate the same.

I As before stated, the plate 17 is. spring-pressed into engagement with the extension 19 of the lever 20. As the lever 20 is moved to the left, a deprcssi'on 23 on the cam face of the plate 17 permits said plateand lever 15 to spring backward, thus withdrawing the stop 7 from the coin chute. (See Fig. 3). If the coin is of such denomination, as for example, a five-cent piece, as will finally set the lever in the position that will permit such withdrawal of the stop 7, as shown in Fig. 3, and, if the retraction of the lever 15is not otherwise blocked,

as .will hereinafter be set forth, the coin lc will fall di rectly -from the carrier 1 into the passage (5. Coins of lesser or greater diameter will not so set the lever 20, and

hence such coins will be deflected into the cash box. It is evident, therefore, that means are provided whereby in initiating a call for a connection, a coin of predetermined size will be deposited from the carrier 1 through the passage 8- into the cash box, a nickel, however, falling into the passage 6. In case a toll connection is desired, coins other than a nickel would have to be deposited and the denomination of the coin signaled to the operator in the usual manner. It would be adsprings 27 and 28.

vantageous, as well as less confusing, if coins of any or of different denominations could be used in payment for toll. For example, if the toll required is twentyfive cents, it is desirable that a single coin of that denomination, or a combination of dimes and nickels, or five nickels may be used. Accordingly, a stop or barrier 24 is provided, which after the central office operator has plugged in in answer to a call, blocks the retraction of the lever 15 and of the stop 7 and hence guides all deposited coins whatever their denominations, into the passage 8. The stop 24 forms the downturned end of the armature 25 of a'blocking magnet 26, which has its circuit completed only when the central ofiice operator has plugged in and the subscriber has also placed a suitable coin in the carrier 1 and operated said carrier to deposit the coin. One point of control ofthe circuit through the magnet 26 is at the central olfice. The other point of control is at the normallyopen switch springs 27, 28. Anarm' 30 carried by the lever 20 normally holds the spring 31 in such position that said spring presses the switch springs 27 and 2S open and closes the switch springs 28 and 29. when the caliper lever 20 is moved by a coin in the initial movement of said lever, the arm 30 is also moved rcleasing the spring 31, which swings back thus closing It will be apparent, ihcrciorc, thal in case the operator has plugged in, the circuit through the blocking magnet 26 is completed and its armature attracted, thus inserting the stop 24 in the path of movement of the arm 32 of the plate 17 and blocking the movement of said plate.

Another feature shown in the drawing, and which comprises more particularly my invention, is means for preventing fraudulent operation of the toll mechanism. For instance, with the mechanism thus far described, it is apparent that a calling party could beat the coin-collector by the following method: After having deposited a nickel to signal the central oflice with a view to asking for a toll connection, the calling party could hold down the handle 3. The operator, upon learning that a toll connection was desired, would rcfund the nickel. When the toll operator had secured the desired conne'ction, she would tell the calling part y to deposit the required tell. The callingpurty would thereupon release the handle 3, and the signal mechanism in returning to normal position would, for example, give one stroke on the gong, such signal indicating lo the central office operator the deposit of a nickel which nickel, however, is the one which has been refunded. In order to prevent such fraudulent operation, the signal circuit is open through the springs 28 and 29, as abovedescribed, while the signal mechanism is set, and hence it is impossible to signal the central olliceexcept by releasing the handle 3.

I will now briefly describe the operation of the system, in this connection more particularly referring to the circuit diagram shown in Fig. (i.

The subscriber desiring a connection, either local or toll, deposits a nickel into the opening in the casing leading to the carrier 1 and then pulls down the lever 3 thereby tilting the carrier into position to deposit the coin into the mouth 4 of the coin chute 5. In the initial movement of the carrier, thecoin moves the lever 20, and the contacts of springs 27 and 28 are closed and lilil those of 28 and 29 are opened. The extension 19 of the I lever 20 being moved and held in the position shown in Fig. 3, the stop is withdrawn from the entrance to the passage 6, since, although the circuit through the block ing magnet 26 has been closed at 27, 28, it is still open at the central ofiice. The nickel, therefore, falls in" position on the stops 9, 9", and closes the contacts 14, 14. Upon the handle 3 being released the carrier 1 returns to its initial position, and the'contacts of springs The'line lamp 1 is thus lighted, in a-manner well undepresses the lever.

derstood. The operator-at the cntral-ofiice plugs in and inquires as to the wishes of the calling party. If a local connection is desired, no further deposit of coin is required, and the coin is held on the stops 9, 9 is deposited or refunded, as thecase may be, in the usual manner. In caseatoll connection is desired, the nickel used to signal the central oflice is returned, and the toll operator informs the calling party of the amount required to obtain such connection. The calling party then deposits in the opening leading to the carrier 1 a coin, in whole or part payment of the toll, and again In this case, as before, the carrier in its initial movement causesthe deposited coin to 0peratethe lever 29 and moves the arm 30 so as to open contacts 28, 29 and close contacts 27, 28.. Since the operator has plugged in, a metallic circuit is closed through the blocking magnet 26 which is bridged across the lines L L, the contacts of said bridge being closed at springs 27, 28. The blocking electromagnet thereupon attracts ils armature 25 and the barrier 24 is moved down back of the arm 32 of the plate 17, thus blocking the withdrawal of the stop 7, whatever may be the character of the deposited coin. Such coin is then directed by the-stop 7 through the channel 8 into thecash box. Upon the release of the handle 3, the denomination of the deposited coin is indicated to the ccntral'oiiice operator through the toll-signal mechanism in a well-known manner, and as fully described in the before-mentioned patent of McBerty and Holmes.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. .lhe combination with a telephone line extending from a subscriber's station.to a central oliice, and provided with electromagnetically-operated line signaling means at the central oiiice, of toll indicating mechanism at the subscribers station, contacts in the line signaling circuitarrangcd to be closed by the operation of said toll mechanism in initiating a call for a connection, additional contacts in said line signaling circuit arranged to be automatically opened during the operation of said toll indicating mechanism and to be reclosed' only upon the return of the same to its initial position.

2. The combination with a signaling circuit, of a telephone line extending from a subscriber's station to a central ofiice. and provided with electromagnetically-operated signaling means at the central ofiice, ofa coin receiving apparatus at the subscriber's station provided with a movable coin carrier, coin-actuated contacts 'in said signaling circuit adapted to be closed by a coin released fromsaid coin carrier, and additional contacts in said signaling circuit constructed and arranged tobe openedby the movement of said coin carrier-and to be reclosed only upon the return'of said carrier to its initial position.

The combination with a telephone line extending from a subscriber's station to a central oflice and provided with electromagnetically operated line signaling means at the central oilice, of a combined local and toll mechanism located at the subscriber's station and comprising toll indicating mechanism and line indicating mechanism,

contacts in the line signaling circuit arranged to he closed in the manipulation of said mechanisms in init-iat-- ing a call for a connection, additional contacts in said line signaling circuit arranged to be automatically held open during the operation of said toll indicating mechanism and to be re-closed only whom-said toll indicating mechanism is in its initial position.

4. The combination with a telephone line extending from a subscribers station to a central office and provided with electromagnetically-operated line signaling means at the central oflicejbf a coin collector comprising toll indicating-mechanism and line' signaling mechanism v at the subscriber's station, contacts in the line signaling circuit arran'ged to be closed by acoin in the operation ofsaid mechanisms in initiating a call for a connection, additional contacts in said line signaling circuit arranged to be automatically opened during the operation of said toll indicating mechanism and to bereclosed only when said toll indicating mechanism is in its initial position.

"5. The combination with a telephone line extending in two limbs from a subscriber's station to a central oliice, and provided with an electromagneticallycont-rolled line signal at the-central oflice, of toll indicating mechanism and coin-actuated line signaling mechanism at the subscribersstation, means-associated with said'toll indicating mechanism for governing the transfer of a coin to said line signaling mechanism in initiating a call for a connection, an electromagnet in a bridge of the line, a connection switch at the central ofiice controlling the closure of the circuit of said eleetromagnet, means controlled by said electromagnet for preventing the transfer to the line signaling mechanism'of coin deposited in the payment of toll, and anormally-open switch in said bridge arranged to be automatically closed in the operation of said toll indicating mechanism, A

6. lhe combination with a telephone line extending in two limbs from a subscriber's station to a central oflice, and provided withan electromagnetically controlled line signal at the central ofiice, of toll indicating mechanism and coin-actuated line signaling mechanism at the subscribers station, means associated with'said toll indicating mechanism for governing the transfer of acoin to said line signaling mechanism in'inltiating a call for a connection, and contacts in said line signaling circuit arranged to be automatically-opened during the operation of said toll indicating mechanism and to be re-closed only when said toll indicating mechanism is in its initial position, an elcctromagnet in a bridge of the line, a connection switch at the central oliice controlling the closure of the circuit of said electromagnct, means controlled by said electromagnet fol-preventing the transfer to the line signaling mechanism of coin deposited in the payment of toll, and a normally-open switch in said bridge arranged to be automatically closed in the operationof said toll indicating mechanism.

In'witness whereof, I, hereunto subscribe my name this 1st day of March A. 1 1907.

AMOS F. DIXON.

Witnesses:

Ram-n G. Joumsnx, Roi T. Annowsr. 

